ArsGeek

Hybrid SLI you say? What the heck is that? Well, Nvidia took a long hard look at the gaming industry and those who use pc’s with high end video cards and came to three conclusions.

1. Increased graphics performance is needed.
2. You should move out of your parent’s basement.
3. Less power consumption is a good thing.

Two out of three ain’t bad for this giant video card creating group.

They’ve created something called Gforce Boost. This technology works by “combining the processing power of the traditional NVIDIA GeForce-based graphics card with that of the second GPU integrated into the motherboard core logic. ”

The power consumption angle is worked by allowing the computer to switch from using one or, if you have an SLI setup, multiple GPUs to the onboard GPU sitting on your mobo. If you’re just tooling around on the web or writing up a nasty retort to your guild members in word, you won’t be using your “discreet” GPUs (the onese you plug into slots) but only the onboard GPU, allowing your computer to suck down less power.

This tech works with the Gforce 8400, 8500 or 8800 series GPUs, and currently the nForce 7 series or GeForce 8200 mGPU mobos, with some Intel manufactured names to be dropped shortly.

Read on for the official press release.

NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), the world leader in visual computing technologies, today announced the industry’s first hybrid technology for PC platforms — Hybrid SLI — that addresses two critical issues: increasing graphics performance and reducing power consumption. NVIDIA Hybrid SLI technology will be incorporated into a wide variety of graphics and motherboard desktop and notebook products that the Company is rolling out for both AMD and Intel desktop and notebook computing platforms throughout 2008.

“From the introduction of programmable GPUs to the rapid adoption of our multi-GPU SLI technology, NVIDIA has repeatedly pioneered and innovated to solve difficult problems for the industry. We believe Hybrid SLI technology is one of the most important innovations we’ve come up with to date,” said Jen-Hsun Huang, CEO of NVIDIA. “Hybrid SLI delivers new multi-GPU technology to a large segment of the PC market, delivering consumers a level of PC graphics performance and power efficiency never before seen.”

First disclosed in June 2007, NVIDIA Hybrid SLI technology is based on the Company’s market-leading GeForce graphics processor units (GPUs) and SLI multi-GPU technology. Hybrid SLI enables NVIDIA motherboard GPUs (mGPUs) to work cooperatively with discrete NVIDIA GPUs (dGPUs) when paired in the same PC platform. Hybrid SLI provides two new technologies — GeForce Boost and HybridPower — that allow the PC to deliver graphics performance for today’s applications and games when 3D graphics horsepower is required, or transition to a lower-powered operating state when not.

For lower energy consumption and quieter PC operation, HybridPower allows the PC to switch processing from a single GPU or multiple GPUs in SLI configuration to the onboard motherboard GPU. HybridPower is most useful in situations where graphics horsepower is not required, such as high definition movie playback on a notebook platform or simple e-mail or Internet browsing on a desktop. It is also beneficial for those users who want a quiet operating state with reduced thermals and noise. For notebooks, HybridPower can also dramatically extend battery life by up to 3 hours. When a game or application is started that requires the additional 3D horsepower, the PC can automatically transition back to the discrete graphics cards and power up the 3D capabilities all transparent to the end useri.

For applications where 3D performance is required, GeForce Boost turbo-charges 3D operation by combining the processing power of the traditional NVIDIA GeForce-based graphics card with that of the second GPU integrated into the motherboard core logic. In media-rich applications, both GPUs work in tandem to render the combined images with the end user benefiting from the increase in performance and frame rate. For typical games and 3D applications, GeForce Boost can kick in automatically, resulting in a greatly enhanced consumer experience.

NVIDIA is the recognised market leader for GPU desktop and notebook solutions for both Intel and AMD platforms and has a full lineup of Hybrid SLI-capable graphics and motherboard products planned for 2008. New Hybrid SLI-capable products include the upcoming NVIDIA nForce 780a, nForce 750a, nForce 730a media and communication processors (MCPs) for AMD CPUs, which will be released later this month, as well as the new GeForce 8200 — the industry’s first micro-ATX motherboard solution with an onboard Microsoft® DirectX® 10-compliant motherboard GPU. NVIDIA Hybrid SLI notebooks as well as desktop products designed for Intel CPUs will be available next quarter.

For more information on Hybrid SLI technologies, including GeForce Boost and HybridPower, please visit http://www.nvidia.com/object/hybrid_sli.html

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